Smith also made a heartfelt plea for his daughter’s sister to attend the the funeral. The sister’s temporary visa application was denied Wednesday, USA Today reports.

“AbbieGail Smith needs her sister there at the moment,” said the girl’s sister, Kennish Smith. “Who’s going to stand up for us? We have no control. We can’t do it on our own.”

Kenroy Smith’s application was in “limbo” after being deported on a drug charge 16 years ago. He will know Friday if he can enter the U.S.

An 18-year-old neighbor is accused of fatally stabbing AbbieGail Smith after she was reported missing from her apartment building in Keansburg, New Jersey earlier this month. Her body was found on July 13.